Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I have been making beads and jewelry in preparation for the holiday shows, but I am having so much fun decorating for Halloween. So no pics of my recent work, but here is the AWESOME zombie gnome I bought from this guy:

If he didn't weigh close to 15 pounds, I would probably carry him around like a baby.

Monday, October 15, 2012

This weekend I was a vendor at the Bead Bonanza in Southfield, Michigan. It was a good show. but my highlight was meeting the incredible Ofilia Cinta. I took my first lampwork class back in 2004, and one of the first artists I discovered online was Ofilia. Not coincidentally, some of the first beads I made were fish:

I gave them my own twist and added multiple eyes, and you can't see it, but this fish (as most of mine did) had a butt.

This is the fish I bought from Ofilia:

See the similarity? Neither do I. :) My point is, great art and great people make you you want to strive for more, to do more, and to be a better you. What is great art? For me, it is something that stimulates and makes you think. What is a great person? Someone who smiles at you (and doesn't look for the exits) as you babble on about your divorceandyouroventhatburnseverythingnomatterthetemperatureandhowmuchyouveadmiredherworkforoversevenyearsandyouaresogeekedtomeetyou...

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Stop by the Great Lakes Bead Bonanza this Sunday, October 14th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tracy and I will be there, along with nearly 50 wonderful artisans! We will have plenty of beads, findings, and finished jewelry.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

This weekend I picked up the 2012-2013 West Michigan Art Guide (ah, if only I had time and money...). On one of the pages they have an article, Why Buy Art? This (along with why buy handmade) is something I try to stress with friends and strangers alike. Here are a few of the reasons that I can relate to the most: